Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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652. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the consultation process regarding the 1916 commemoration; the funding that will be made available; the specific projects that are under consideration; the timeframe for implementation of the commemoration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5679/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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656. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which preparations for the 1916 commemorations continue to progress apace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6078/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 652 and 656 together.

The Ireland 2016initiative, which I am leading, aims to develop, coordinate and deliver a programme to honour and remember those who fought and died in the 1916 Easter Rising. The Ireland 2016initiative will reflect on the legacy of that period and look towards our future, based around 5 themes, as set out in the Government's framework plan:

- Remembering the past

- Reconciling and respecting all traditions

- Presenting Ireland to the world

- Imagining our future

- Celebrating our achievements.

The Ireland 2016Project Team in my Department is currently engaged in an extensive consultation process across the Government, State agency and community sectors in order to progress the development of detailed plans for 2016. Meetings have taken place between the team and the various key Departments, agencies, local authorities and other interested parties and I am delighted at the level of interest and enthusiasm for the programme to date. I envisage that this formal consultation phase will be complete by end-February, but engagement will, of course, be ongoing with interested parties as the programme develops towards implementation.

In this regard, I have secured an amount of €4 million in current funding in the Revised Estimates for 2015 to support the development of an integrated plan – Ireland 2016– focused on commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Rising. It is my intention to allocate this funding in a manner that will help to support a wide range of activities and events by interested groups, including local community groups, as well as the national cultural institutions, education, the Irish language and arts sectors.This funding is in addition to the capital provision of €22 million to be allocated in 2015 to a number of flagship commemorations projects.